Fluid control for duplicator machine



y 1956 cs. R. ROBINSON ErAL 2,754,752

FLUID CONTROL FOR DUPLICATOR MACHINE Filed July 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1IN V EN TORS 5'4 /F/l/Vf A? Foe/Arse I B404 7. fiat-MAN 4/ /z 1; m cz-LATTORN EYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. R. ROBINSON ETAL lllrlllll.

FLUID CONTROL FOR DUPLICATOR MACHINE HmaF n n u N mm w mmM m ow R mf 0ma w M A July 17, 1956 Filed July 2, 1952 E LE 11 11111 L United StatesPatent FLUID CONTROL FOR DUPLICATOR MACHINE Grant R. Robinson, Westbury,and Paul T. Trueman, New York, N. Y., assignors to Old Town Corporation,Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation Application July 2, 1952, Serial No.296,874

7 Claims. (Cl. 101-1325) The present invention relates, in general, toduplicating machines of the type wherein a record copy or master sheetis made in reverse with a suitable copying ink and reproduced therefromon sheets of paper, or the like, having a moistened face, and, inparticular, to a control for the fluid supply to the instrumentalitiesutilized in applying a very limited amount of the fluid to the face ofthe sheet that is to be duplicated upon.

In duplicating machines of the described type, which employ the socalled fluid process method of duplicating, the. face of the clear sheetto be duplicated upon is moistened for the purpose of dissolving aminute amount of the copying ink when engaged under pressure with thereference characters on the master or copy sheet. To obtain desired andeflicient results with the fluid process method of duplicating, themedium of the moistened sheet is essential in dividing the amount ofcopying ink embodied in the master sheet characters to produce themaximum number of copies. The most important fac tor in obtaining adesired or maximum number of duplicated copies is a control of theamount of fluid applied to the face of the sheet to be engaged underpressure with the master sheet. To obtain the maximum number of copies,the sheet to be duplicated upon must be uniformly moistened with anextremely limited amount of the fluid and, if the sheet to be duplicatedupon carries an excess of moisture when it is engaged under pressurewith the master copy ink, an excess of the ink will be dissolvedtherefrom and deposited on the clear sheet and thus will result in fewercopies being obtainable from the master sheet.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the control of the fluidsupplied to the moistening instrumentalities is of paramount importance.Heretofore this supply control was effected by a barometric action or bya supply pump, and more recently by a valve control of the typeillustrated and described in our Patent No. 2,510,256. In the case ofbarometric action, a control which utilizes said action is found to benot readily adjustable, must be air-locked and is subject to continuallychanging pressures. A pump, while adjustable, requires considerableattention and involves additional mechanisms. While the above identifiedvalve control will furnish an extremely high degree of accurate controlto maintain a constant amount of fluid for the moisteninginstrumentalities, there exists a need for a valve type control, whichfor certain purposes, may be used in lieu of the more expensive controlof said patent, for example, for use in a low cost du- Therefore, one ofthe objects of the present invention is the provision of a fluid controlfor a duplicating machine, which control is generally of simplifiedconstruction, having a minimum of working parts, which is inexpensive tomanufacture, and which will furnish a controlled amount of fluid to themoistening instrumentalities.

Another object is to provide a readily accessible manually operablefluid control which is simple to operate and to adjust.

A further object is the provision of a main fluid reservoir which isreadily removable from the duplicating machine without disturbing oraifecting the sheet moistening means, the fluid control being providedon the reservoir and being utilized to replenish the latter.

A still further object is the provision of an intermediate fluid chamberprovided with a moistening device and having means to bias said chamberin a direction to bias the moistening device into fluid-transferringengagement with a moistener applicator element of a duplicating machine.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a duplicating machine pursuant to thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the fluid control taken on the line4-4 of Pig. 2, with the control in Oil or closed condition thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on the line 7-7 ofFig. 6.

The fluid control of the present invention is illustrated in connectionwith a manually operable duplicating machine 10 which, as here shown, isprovided with opposed side frames 12 and 14 which support a rotatabledrum 16 together with a coacting pressure roll 18, said drum beingrotated by the handle 1%. A pair of feed rolls 2!) and 22 are rotatablydisposed in front of the bight formed by the drum 16 and its coactingpressure roll 18. As

here shown, the feed roll 29 is utilized to apply a limited amount ofmoisture to the upper face of a clear sheet to be duplicated upon, saidroll being engaged by one end of a fibrous or absorbent material, suchas the wick 2.4. The roll 20 and the wick 24 are hereinafter referred toas the applicator elements.

It is essential to provide the fibrous material 24- with a limited anddesired amount of fluid directly in accordance with the results to beproduced. Pursuant to the present invention, the wick 24 is supported ina substantially U-shaped holder 26 which extends transversely of theduplicating machine and which is provided with a; plurality of openings2% for permitting the fluid to flow into the holder 26. The holder 26 isdisposed in an inter-. mediate fluid reservoir chamber 3% so that theaperturcd end thereof is dipped into the fluid which flows into saidreservoir from the main fluid reservoir 32 through the fluid control 34of the present invention, as herein-- after described in detail.

The fluid chamber 38 extends transversely of the duplicating machine 19and, in order to mount said chamber, the latter is provided with theopposing slotted end portions 36 and 38 which are adapted to releasablyreceive the inturned ends 40 and 4-2 of the support members 44 and 46,respectively. More specifically, it will be noted from Fig. 5 that theside frames 12 and 14 are provided with the outwardly extending pivotmembers 48 and 56, respectively, on which the companion support members44 and 46 are mounted for pivotal movement. Each pivot member isprovided with a coil spring 52 which resiliently urges the companionsupport member into abutment with a washer 54 through which the pivotextends. The side frames 12 and 14 are slotted, as at 56, to permit theinturned portions of the support members 12 and 14 to engage in theslots 58 provided in the opposing ends of the chamber 39. It will beunderstood that the support members 44 and 46 may be urged out wardlyalong the companion pivots, against the bias of the springs 52, asillustrated in broken line in Fig. 5, to permit for the engagement ordisengagement of said members and the chamber 30 for mounting orremoving said chamber from the duplicating machine. In order toresiliently urge the exposed marginal edge of the wick 24 against themoistening roll 26, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the spring elements 6d areprovided to interconnect each of the support members and a convenientportion of the adjacent side frame.

In order to operatively dispose the holder 26 for the wick 24 inposition in the chamber 36, the latter is provided with the spacedbrackets 6262. Each bracket 62 has a base portion 64 which is secured onthe bottom wall 31 of the chamber 30, an upstanding portion 66 whichextends transversely of the duplicatin machine, and a laterallyextending portion 63 which extends transversely of the portion 66. Thechamber is provided with a wall 7 t) which is inclined upwardly from thebottom wall 31, and with a cover 72 which terminates inwardly of thefree marginal edge 73 of the wall 70 to define an opening therebetweenthrough which the wick 24 projects from the chamber 30, as illustratedin Fig. 6, when the holder 26 is disposed on said wall. In thisconnection, it will be noted that the wick holder 26 abuts the upstanding portions 66 of the brackets 62 to limit the movement of theholder into the chamber 36, lateral movement of said holder beingprevented by the engagement of the opposite ends thereof with thelaterally extending portions 68 of the brackets 62. Each of saidbrackets is provided, on the upstanding portion 66 thereof, with aprojection 74 which engages in a companion slot 76 defined in the cover72 for supporting the latter in position on the chamber 39. The cover'72 is also provided with a centrally disposed opening 78 for receivingthe fluid control 34- of the present invention.

As previously indicated, the fluid control 34 is carried by thecylindrical main reservoir 32 which holds the fluid F. Said reservoirextends transversely of the duplicating machine it and is disposedbetween the side frames 12 and 14, being mounted on a fluid baffle ordeflector member 8t) which extends transversely between the side frames,being carried by the bracket 82 provided on the side frame 14. In orderto ieleasably retain the reservoir 32 in position between said sideframes, the latter are also provided with the confronting pins ormembers 84- 84. From the foregoing, it Will be apparent that thereservoir 32 may be readily inserted into and removed from the machine,being retained therein by the companion pins 84 and the baffle 80, thelatter also serving to prevent the fluid on the roll 20 from splatteringonto the drum 16.

The reservoir 32 is provided with a saddle or support member 86 which issuitably secured thereto as by soldering, as at 83. A tube 96 extendsthrough the saddle 86 from the opening 92 in the wall of reservoir 32,said tube being suitably secured to the saddle, as by the solderingindicated at 94. The tube 90 is notched at the outer end thereof, as at96, to provide a fluid outlet therefrom. In order to control the flow offluid from the reservoir 32 through the tube 90, provision is made for acylindrical cap 98 which overlies and closes the outer end of the tube,and which is provided adjacent said tube end with the fluid outletaperture 100. The cap 98 is mounted in a disc 102, the tube 90 extendingthrough said disc and into said cap, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and3. It will be understood that the cap 98 is slip fit over the lower endof the tube 90, suflicient clearance being provided therebetween topermit only for the rotation of the cap on the tube, said cap and tubeconstituting a rotary valve. In order to retain the cap' in position onthe tube, the saddle 86 is provided with a depending portion 104 whichis slotted, as at 106, to receive the disc 102 for mounting the latter,as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The disc is provided with suitableindicia indicating the on and 01f positions of the fluid control orvalve 34, and in addition is provided with an ear 198 to limit therotation thereof to the off position.

in using the fluid control device of the present invention, thereservoir 32 is initially filled with a suitable fluid F. In thisconnection, it will be noted that said reservoir is provided with arectangular member which forms a base to prevent the reservoir fromrolling on a plane surface on which the reservoir may be disposed whenremoved from the duplicating machine 10. It will be apparent that whenthe base 119 is disposed on a supporting surface, the valve 34 willextend upwardly from the reservoir. In order to fill the reservoir 32,the disc 102 is rotated until the outlet 1% in the cap 98 is in registrywith the notch outlet 96 formed in the tube 90. The fluid may then beinserted through the aligned outlets into the tube 20 to fill thereservoir 32. It will be noted in this connection that when the apertureis in registry with the notch 96, the portion of the disc provided withthe indication for the on setting of the valve will be disposedoutwardly of the saddle 86, the of or closed setting of the valveillustrated in Fig. 4, being indicated by the disposition of the 01?indication outwardly of the saddle 86 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Havingfilled the reservoir with fluid, and having then rotated the disc to theoff position to seal the outlet 96, the reservoir 32 is then invertedand disposed in said inverted position between the side frames of theduplicating machine so that the cap 98 extends through the opening 78 inthe cover 72 and into the chamber 3%). The disc is then rotated to theon setting to permit the entry of the fluid into the chamber 3t) andthrough the apertures 28 of the wick holder 2-6 to saturate the wick 24.After the desired amount of fluid has entered the chamber 30, the disc162 is rotated to an intermediate position thereof so that the aperture1% is in partial registry only with the notch 96 to permit for arelatively slow trickle or flow of the fluid into the chamber 30 toreplenish the fluid that is being used to moisten the clear sheetsduring the operation of the duplicating machine. It will be understoodthat the setting of the fluid control valve 34 will depend upon thespeed of operation of the duplicating machine by the operator so as toregulate the flow of fluid from the reservoir 32 into the chamber 30 inaccordance with the rate at which said fluid is used up. Consequently,for a relatively slow operation there should be only a relatively smalldegree of registry between the fluid outlets 100 and 96, and for afaster operation the degree of registry should be increased. The disc102 may be suitably provided with the graduation indicia 112 forindicating various settings of the valve 34 to facilitate the setting ofthe valve for a desired rate of fluid flow during the operation of theduplicating machine.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in thepresent invention Without departing from the underlying idea orprinciples of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character described having moisture applicatorelements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet to be duplicated upon, afluid supply and c0ntrol for said elements comprising a fluid reservoir,an intermediate fluid chamber disposed to receive fluid from saidreservoir for said elements, and a rotary valve operable to control theflow of fluid from said reservoir to said chamber, said valve comprisinga tube extending lal n A from said reservoir to said chamber andprovided with a fluid outlet, and a cap rotatably mounted on said tubeand sealing said outlet, said cap having a fluid outlet movable to andfrom registry with said tube outlet to control the rate of fluid flowinto said chamber, and a member provided on said cap to effect rotationthereof, said reservoir being provided with a saddle in which saidmember is disposed for retaining said cap in position on said tube.

2. In a machine of the character described having moisture applicatorelements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet to be duplicated upon, afluid supply and control for said elements comprising a fluid reservoir,an intermediate fluid chamber disposed to receive fluid from saidreservoir for said elements, and a rotary valve operable to control theflow of fluid from said reservoir to said chamber, said valve comprisinga tube extending from said reservoir to said chamber and provided with afluid outlet, and a cap rotatably mounted on said tube and sealing saidoutlet, said cap having a fluid outlet movable to and from registry withsaid tube outlet to control the rate of fluid flow into said chamber,and a member provided on said cap to effect rotation thereof, saidreservoir being provided with a saddle in which said member is disposedfor retaining said cap in position on said tube, said member having aportion extending outwardly of said saddle and provided with indicia forindicating various valve settings.

3. In a machine of the character described having spaced side frames andmoisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet tobe duplicated upon, a fluid supply and control for said elementscomprising a fluid reservoir disposed between said frames, anintermediate fluid chamber disposed between said frames to receive fluidfrom said reservoir for said elements, means for controlling the flow offluid from said reservoir to said chamber, means to readily positionsaid reservoir between said side frames comprising a fluid baffleextending between said frames, and confronting members provided on saidframes laterally of said bafile, said baffle and said members mountingsaid reservoir, and means to removably mount said chamber between saidside frames comprising support elements provided on said side frames andreleasably engageable with said chamber, said support elements beingmounted for pivotal movement, said chamber being provided with one ofsaid applicator elements and the other applicator element being mountedin juxtaposition to said one applicator element, and means biasing saidsupport elements in a direction to urge said one applicator element intofluid-transfer engagement with said other applicator element.

4. In a machine of the character described, a fluid chamber providedwith a moisture applicator element, said chamber having an inclined wallon which said element is retained and being provided with a cover whichterminates inwardly of the upper marginal edge of said wall to define anopening therebetween through which said element projects, and bracketmeans provided in said chamber and forming an abutment for mounting saidelement in operative disposition therein, said bracket means beingengageable with said cover for retaining the latter in position on saidchamber.

5. In a machine of the character described, spaced side frames, drummeans for a master sheet mounted for rotation between said side frames,moisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet tobe duplicated upon, said elements being mounted between said side framesrelative to said drum means, baflle means mounted between said framesand interposed between said moisture applicator elements and said drummeans to prevent the spatter of fluid from said applicator elements ontosaid drum means, a reservoir for supplying fluid to said moistureapplicator elements, and fixed means positioned between said side framesand spaced laterally of said balfle means, said fixed means cooperatingwith said bafile means to constitute a support for mounting saidreservoir between said side frames.

6. In a machine of the character described, spaced side frames, drummeans for a master sheet mounted for rotation between said side frames,moisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet tobe duplicated upon, said elements being mounted between said side framesrelative to said drum means, baffle means mounted between said framesand interposed between said moisture applicator elements and said drummeans to prevent the spatter of fiuid from said applicator elements ontosaid drum means, a reservoir for supplying fluid to said moistureapplicator elements, and fixed means positioned between said side framesand spaced laterally of said baffle means, said fixed means cooperatingwith said baflle means to constitute a support for mounting saidreservoir between said side frames, said fixed means being confrontingmembers provided on said side frames, respectively.

7. In a machine of the character described having spaced side frames andmoisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet tobe duplicated upon, a fluid supply for said elements comprising a fluidreservoir disposed between said frames and an intermediate fluid chamberdisposed between said frames to receive fluid from said reservoir forsaid elements, and means to removably mount said chamber between saidside frames comprising support elements provided on said side frames andreleasably engageable with said chamber, said support elements beingmounted for pivotal movement, said chamber being provided with one ofsaid applicator elements and the other applicator element being disposedbetween said frames in juxtaposition to said one applicator element, andmeans biasing said support elements in a direction to urge said oneapplicator element into fluidtransfer engagement with said otherapplicator element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS128,473 Durant July 2, 1872 808,089 Hopkins et al. Dec. 26, 19051,598,434 Gilchrist Aug. 31, 1926 1,685,147 Case Sept. 25, 19281,837,203 Bushnell Dec. 22, 1931 2,034,209 RitZerfeld Mar. 17, 19362,036,972 Storck Apr. 7, 1936 2,129,179 Kokay Sept. 6, 1938 2,163,529Storck June 20, 1939 2,172,115 Trueman et al. Sept. 5, 1939 2,237,548Copeland et al Apr. 8, 1941

